Tag: Great Crested Flycatcher

Ready for My Close-up…by Brad Marks

Welcome to February everyone! Well, as of last Saturday, we are officially back home – our winter southern migration has come to an end. Thankfully, Ol’ Man Winter took pity and welcomed us back with rather nice weather – at least for this time of the year in the Midwestern tundra. Have to say I am rather exhausted from our extended southern stay. Not sure if that is the results of daily nonstop birding or having to haul this damn boat anchor around ..while daily nonstop birding. Need to take a few days to recover and start getting everything back in order from the trip – emails to read (6,600 to be exact), transfer all the photos to NAS (727G worth) and a host of other things sure to numb the mind. One bright spot to mention, I made it to 12th on the top 100 Texas Birders list and shockingly 79th on the top US Birders list! The former will fall now that we have left that great state, but we can continue to work on the overall stats (work being code for I’ll continue birding as normal and just check in from time to time to see where I happen to be ha). While I get things back in order, Brad is going to take the helm and bring you an outing from a MUCH warmer time.

Take it away Brad…

After Brian and I successfully completed the world’s first ever International Warbler Watch and Walk in the Woods or IW4 (link here), I spent a morning with my friend, Ray, in his back yard.  Ray’s photography style specializes in his kids, and close-up photos of nature.  He has dozens of projects going on simultaneously and occasionally, just occasionally, I can get him to “focus” long enough for a photo walk in the woods.  In reality, the walk was mostly in the wooded ravine in his back yard.  The general area where we both live is on the edge of a bluff overlooking the Illinois River.  Most of the houses are surrounded by ravines and woods full of wildlife, both furred and feathered.  Wooded lot lines get all confused when ravines are involved, which is a polite way to say we wandered a bit.

Great Crested Flycatcher by Brad Marks

Hit the jump to read more about our ravine wanderings.

Continue reading Ready for My Close-up…by Brad Marks

Not a Vulture

We finally made it up to Springfield, Ohio for the Canine Performance Events (CPE) Invitational Nationals. I must say this is a bit overwhelming and I don’t even have four paws and a tail (although I do have the long nose for it ha). Sources indicated there are around 700 canines performing at this show and based on the large number of campers and dogs everywhere you look – thinking that might be an undercount. Raven hits the agility ring starting tomorrow. Don’t tell him, but Dad will not fault him for being nervous with all the voodoo paws pointed at him from the stands. Ruger and Benji came along for moral support … and we didn’t trust them not to throw a kegger while we were gone. Linda was surprised to see the were also holding an open “drag racing” event here. Think of it as a solo drag race for 50 yards although instead of nitro fuel they only need puppy kisses from Mommy at the finish line. Decided we would let Ruger have a go now that he has officially “crested” the one year old threshold.

Great Crested Flycatcher found at Shell Mounds on Dauphin Island in April 2021

Hit the jump to read more about our featured feathered friend.. and a lot more about our little dragster.

Continue reading Not a Vulture